Sad-iron.



E. E. ROSE.

SAD IRON.

APPLICATION FILED mums. m1.

Patented D00. 28, 1915.

WITNESSES: ,9 v1: R

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. ROSE, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SAD-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Application filed June 28, 1911. I Serial No. 635,912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD E. Rosn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sad-Irons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric sad irons, and it has particular reference to such devices as are provided with means for electrically and mechanically disconnecting the iron from the service cord or cable which normally supplies energy thereto.

One object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character which shall embody simple, adequate and inexpensive means whereby the iron may be electrically disconnected from the service cord without severing the mechanical connection therewith, and which shall also embody means tending to prevent an unobstructed mechanical disconnection after an electrical disconnection has been effected.

Another object of my invention is to provide simple and inexpensive terminal members which may be attached to and insulated from the body portion of the iron and which are intimately and permanently united to the ends of the heater unit.

In the prior art, it has been common to provide devices of this type with detachable plug members which were adapted to cooperate with suitable terminal members and were maintained in position by means of socket members or holders. Through the agency of these means, a mechanical connection between the detachable plug member and the iron-proper 'col'ild'be maintained subsequent to the interruption of'the electric' circuit, but no means were provided for preventing the ready removal of the plug member from the holder and for definitely holding the plug member out of engagement with the terminal members. Furthermore,

it has been customary to secure the heaterunit leads to the terminal members by means of screws or nuts and bolts. However, the use of such means has resulted in frequent difficulties by reason of the fact that such connections were liable to become loose and thus cause poor electrical contact.

According to my present invention, I provide a detachable plug that is secured to the free end of a service cord and is held in a punched sheet metal socket or holder whichis suitably secured to the handle of the iron. In addition, I provide a spring which is adapted to cooperate with the detachable plug member in such manner as to prevent its ready removal from the socket and to retain the plug member out of contact with the terminal members. Furthermore, I provide terminal members of punched sheet material which are suitably secured to the body of the iron and are riveted, or otherwise in timately united, to the leads of the heater unit, so that a perfect and permanent electrical connection is insured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partially in plan and partially in section, of a device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view, partiallyin plan and partially in section, of a portion of the device known construction and comprises a body member 8 and a bottom member 9 between which the heater unit 2 is disposed, and an outer casing 10 which envelops the aforesaid component parts. The handle 3 comprises an insulating member 11, supporting or bracket members 12, a bolt 13 and nuts 14. The supporting members 12 are preferably constructed of punched sheet metal and are of U-shape in cross section, said members being secured to the working member 1 by any suitable means, screws 12 being shown as employed for this purpose. Any other suitable means of sup orting the insulating 'member 11 may, 0 course, be employed.

The terminal members 4 are of like con struction and preferably made of punched sheet material, and each comprises a downwardly projecting portion 15 to which one of the heater unit leads 16 is riveted or otherwise permanently secured, a horizontally disposed portion 17 which is attached to and insulated from the body portion 8 by means of a screw 18, insulating members 19 and a bar 20, and an upwardly extending portion 21 that projects through an opening in a cap member 22 and constitutes one of the external terminal members of the device.

The above described terminal members are preferably constructed of punched sheet material and are permanently connected to the leads of the heater unit. I have found it advantageous to attach the terminal members 4 to the body portion 8 by means of the horizontally projecting portion 17, but I do not wish to limit my invention in this respect, as it may be advisable, in some cases, to omit the horizontal portion 17 and to .otherwise secure the terminal members 4" to the body member 8.

The socket member or holder 6 is also preferably constructed of punched sheet material which is so fashioned as to receive the detachable plug member 5 and is also provided with a longitudinally disposed channel portion 23 that is adapted to fit tightly within the U-shaped supporting member 12, said holder being riveted, or otherwise suitably secured thereto. skilled in the art will readily understand that the socket or holder 6 may be suitably secured to the outer casing 10, if desired, al though I prefer the construction shown and described. I

The contact plug member 5 is secured to the free end of a service cord or cable 23 which is connected to the source of energy, its construction and mode of operation being well known in the art. Therefore, no detailed descrciption of the same is considered necessary except to point out that the lower end thereof is provided with an en'- larged portion 24 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth, and projecting portions 25 are provided on opposite sides near the upper end thereof to assist in maintaining the proper relationship of the plug member 5 and the socket 6.

The upper end of the spring 7 is attached to the handle member 11 by means of the nut 14, while the free end thereof is disposed within the channel portion 23 of the socket member 6 and cooperates with the detachable plug member 5. The spring 7 is preferably constructed of sheet material and an offset 26 is provided, near its'lower end, to cooperate with the enlarged portion 24 of the detachable plug member 5 for a purpose to be set forth.

Assuming the various parts to occupy the positions shown, the device may be electrically disconnected from the service cord or cable 23 by Withdrawing the plug member 5 from the terminals 4. As the plug member 5 is withdrawn, the spring 7 cooperates with itin such manner as to cause the offset 26 to receive the enlarged portion 24 thereof and to thus prevent an unob- Those structed removal of the plug 5 from the socket 6. Furthermore, the spring 7 also.

retains the detachable plug 5 in position and prevents its accidental engagement with the contact terminals 4.

In order to mechanically disconnect the plug 5 from the device by pulling on the cord, the spring 7 may be forced back toward the supporting member 12, thereby releasing the enlarged portion 24 of the plug 5, after which said plug may be readily withdrawn. The plug member 5 may also be removed, if desirable, by exerting an increased pull thereon, whereby the spring 7 is caused to yield and to release the enlarged portion 24, as will be readily understood.

Although I have shown and described a sad iron having specific structural details and arrangement and location of parts, it is evident that various modifications may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I' desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims. 4

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric sad iron, the combination with a working member, a handle therefor,

and an electric heater associated therewith and an electric heater associated therewithv and provided .with contact terminals, of a punched sheet metal holder associated with said handle, a detachable contact member for said terminals movably held in said holder, and a spring adapted to permit 'ci'r r cuit breaking movement of said contact member and to prevent an unobstructed withdrawal thereof *from said holder after the circuit is-broken.

3,. In an electric sad iron, the combination with a working member, an electric heater associated therewith, and terminals for said heater, of a handle for said working memher, a punched sheet metal holder or guide member intimately associated with said handle, a detachable contact plug movably disposed therein, and a resilient member asso' ciated with said handle and adapted to retain said plug, when out of engagement with said terminals, and to'prevent an unobstructed removal thereof from said holder. 4. In an electric sad iron, the combination with a working member, a handle therefor,

an electric heater associated therewith, and terminals for said heater, of a detachable plug member having an enlarged end portion to cooperate with said terminals, a punched sheet metal holder having a longitudinal channel in one side thereof, said holder being rigidly secured to said handle and adapted to receive said detachable member, and a spring secured to said handle and disposed in said longitudinal channel in cooperative engagement with said detachable member, said spring being provided with an offset portion to receive the enlarged end portion of said plug member.

5. In an electric sad .iron, the combination with a body member, and an electric heater associated therewith, of a plurality of terminal members permanently united to the respective ends of said heater, and insulated means for clamping said terminal members rigidly to said body member.

6. In an electric sad iron, the combination with a body member, a casing and an electric heater associated therewith, of a plurality of terminal members rigidly clamped to and insulated from said body member and projecting through said casing.

7 In an electric sad iron, the combination with a body member, a casing and an electric heater associated therewith, of a plurality of punched terminal members secured to said body member and insulated therefrom, said terminal members being riveted to the ends of said heater and projecting through the casing to constitute external contact members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto. subscribed my name this 19th day of June, 1911.

EDWARD E. ROSE.

Witnesses: a HERBERT E. RUooLEs,

B. B. Hume. 

